The Nigerian team shone during the third day of the African Athletics Championships in Douala, with Ese Brume leading the way. This long jump queen impressed once again by winning the gold medal for Nigeria. In an impressive final jump, she won by reaching a distance of 6.73 m, surpassing the Burkina Faso record held by Marthe Koala of 6.72 m. This feat allows Brume to reclaim their 2018 title after an absence in 2022, giving way to Koala’s historic victory for his country.
However, Nigeria’s new long jump revelation, Prestina Ochonogor, narrowly missed out on the podium finishing fourth with a jump of 6.28m behind bronze medalist Danielle Nolte of South Africa with 6.44 mr. Despite this disappointment, the Nigerian team was able to overcome the obstacles to continue to shine on the international scene.
In the 400m events, young talents Samuel Ogazi and Esther Elo Joseph won their first international medals by bagging brilliant bronze medals. Ogazi, a student at the University of Alabama, did well by finishing third with a time of 45.47s, just behind Cheikh Tidiana Tiouf of Senegal and Lee Eppie of Botswana. For her part, Esther Elo Joseph also showed determination by sprinting to third place with a time of 51.94s, behind Miranda Coetzee of South Africa and Qincy Malekani.
Additionally, Temitope Adeshina won the silver medal in the high jump, clearing a bar at 1.84m. She had to lose to Rose Yeboah from Ghana who jumped 1.87m, repeating their performances at the previous NCAA Championships. These exceptional performances demonstrate the talent and determination of Nigerian athletes to excel on the international stage.
In short, the day was marked by the victories and relentless efforts of Nigerian athletes, who brilliantly represented their country during the African Athletics Championships in Douala. These successes underline the perseverance and exceptional talent of Nigerian athletes, who continue to fly the colors of their nation on the world sporting stage.